[NAGDU] Treating What Could be Separation Anxiety

[Tami Jarvis]

Joe,

The method I used for crate training Loki is from the Training Levels by 
Sue Ailsby. Her website is www.sue-eh.ca. I'll give a brief description 
of the method. It worked wonders with Loki, who freaked out in the crate 
at first. He was totally calm about absolutely everything else, but I 
thought he would tear the crate apart the first time I put him in. 
Yikes! So I worked through Sue's method very slowly, and now he is a 
crate-loving critter. He was a puppy, so it might go differently with an 
adult dog. It involves treats and lures, too, but could perhaps be 
adapted if the handler does not want to use food in the training.

To start, lure the dog into the crate and reward the dog for going into 
the crate. That's it. Do this a few times until the dog will go into the 
crate on command. Once the dog is comfortable going into the crate, wait 
a bit beside the crate with the door open. Reward the dog for staying in 
the crate. Repeat as necessary. Next step is to close the door without 
locking it, staying by the crate. If the dog complains, ignore the dog. 
The instant the dog quiets, open the door and reward the dog. Repeat 
until the dog is quiet. Lengthen the time you wait to open the door 
until the dog can be quiet with you there consistently. Then lock the 
door and begin the process of moving away until you can go into the next 
room without the dog throwing a fit.

I also fed Loki in his crate, using the same process of leaving the door 
open, then closing it without locking it, then locking it and moving 
away, etc., etc. Since I was feeding him 4 times a day at that point, he 
got lots of practice. He still did a lot of yowling for quite awhile, 
being a very vocal puppy.

The key to convincing the dog to be quiet in the crate is to never open 
the crate while the dog is carrying on. When you're away from the crate, 
don't even start towards it when the dog is fussing. The instant the dog 
is quiet, turn towards the crate and approach until the dog vocalizes, 
then stop and stare off at something else or turn away until the dog is 
quiet.

I assume the dog you're talking about is generally crate-trained, so the 
process may go faster than with a puppy. The main thing is to teach the 
dog that the crate does not equal total abandonment and also that 
throwing fits in the crate will not get the dog what it wants. Being 
quiet in the crate *will* get the dog what it wants, which is release 
from the crate and reunion with the handler. Gradually extending the 
time the dog is in the crate without the handler in view can help a dog 
with abandonment issues learn to be quiet and wait patiently. At least 
it worked that way with Loki. We were able to get away with the "stuff 
the puppy in the crate" method with Zay, my husband's dog. Good thing, 
because we ended up having a lot going on with family stuff when she was 
young. But that method was a nonstarter with Mr. Freak Out, so I was 
glad some friends had put me onto the Training Levels with that miracle 
method for him. Whew!

hth,

Tami


On 10/04/2016 10:15 AM, Joe Orozco via NAGDU wrote:
> Hi, thanks to the replies thus far.
>
> To answer your specific questions, the dog has been positioned in a
> crate in someone’s office. Though the door can be closed, the dog can
> naturally still hear other people walking about. Presumably it can
> still sense its handler when they are in proximity, hence giving voice
> to the incessant barking. When on leash, the dog can lie still and
> behave itself. Unfortunately, maintaining the dog on leash with
> another employee is not an ideal arrangement, because it cannot always
> be guaranteed an employee will be available.
>
> Again, this is only a temporary period. Yet, it’s something we’re
> hoping can be addressed. I’ve looked through two popular books,
> Culture Clash and The Other End of the Leash. If anyone else has
> specific suggestions and/or other book references, please let me know.
> Thank you all kindly in advance for your help.
>
> Joe
>
>
> On 10/4/16, Donna St. John via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a few questions before I input my thoughts.
>> Is the dog crated where it can still see and hear people?  What does the dog
>> do if it is simply on lead, lying down without direct attention given to it?
>> Donna and Elsa
>>
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